Determining Solid Content Concentration in a Fluid Stream

Abstract

A method for determining solid content concentration in a fluid flow includes measuring a noise signal generated by a fluid flow and correlating the noise signal to the solid content. The noise signal may be correlated to represent the solid content concentration such as by applying one or more filters to the noise signal or applying one or more physical or numerical methods to the noise signal. For example, the fluid flow may be pressurized to a selected level to collapse gas bubbled entrained in the fluid flow, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing a component of the noise signal unrelated to the solid content.

1 . A method for ascertaining a solid content in a fluid flow comprising:
 receiving a signal from a flow meter measuring a fluid flow, the signal having a noise signal caused, at least in part, by solids in the fluid flow; and   determining the solid content in the fluid flow based on the noise signal.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining the solid content based on the signal comprises:
 identifying a solid type contained in the fluid flow; and   correlating the noise signal with the solid type.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein correlating the noise signal with the solid type comprises associating a characteristic of the solid type with an aspect of the noise signal. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content comprises pressurizing the fluid flow to collapse gas bubbles present therein. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content comprises manipulating the noise signal with a filter. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content comprises manipulating the noise signal with a numerical analysis. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising measuring a flow rate of the fluid flow. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein measuring the flow rate of the fluid flow comprises measuring the flow rate of an entirety of the fluid flow. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein measuring the flow rate of the fluid flow comprises measuring a side stream of the fluid flow. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising controlling the flow rate of the fluid flow through the side stream. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising adjusting an addition rate of the solid to the fluid flow based on the solid content determination. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the flow meter is at least one of an acoustic flow meter or a magnetic flow meter. 
   
   
       14 . An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving data from a flow meter measuring a fluid flow, the signal having a noise signal caused, at least in part, by solids in the fluid flow; and   determining the solid content based on the noise signal.   
   
   
       15 . The article according to  claim 14  wherein the instructions adapted to cause the one or more processors to perform the operation of determining the solid content based on the signal comprise instructions adapted to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 identifying a solid type contained in the fluid flow; and   correlating the noise signal with the solid type.   
   
   
       16 . The article according to  claim 14  wherein the flow meter is at least one of an acoustic flow meter or a magnetic flow meter. 
   
   
       17 . A method for controlling a solid content in a fluid flow comprising:
 receiving a signal from a flow meter measuring a fluid flow, the signal having a noise signal caused, at least in part, by solids in the fluid flow;   determining the solid content of the fluid flow utilizing the noise signal; and   adjusting an amount of the solid added to the fluid flow based on the determined solid content.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 establishing a solid content setpoint;   comparing the determined solid content with the solid content setpoint; and   adjusting an amount of the solid added to the fluid flow based on the comparison.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein establishing a fluid flow comprises:
 establishing a flow rate setpoint of the fluid flow;   separating a portion of the fluid flow into a side stream;   measuring the flow rate of the fluid flow in the side stream;   compare the measured flow rate with the flow rate setpoint; and   adjust the flow rate of the fluid flow based on the comparison.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content comprises pressurizing the fluid flow to collapse gas bubbles present therein. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content comprises manipulating the noise signal with a filter. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein diminishing a portion of the noise signal unrelated to solid content comprises manipulating the noise signal with a numerical analysis. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the flow meter is at least one of an acoustic or a magnetic flow meter.